DON'T WAIT FOR SPECIAL DAYS, MAKE ONE!

We all look forward to special days. It is good because the anticipation moves us forward. By special days, I mean birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, traveling to new places, finishing a semester, vacation, etc. These special days come after several regular days. The waiting creates a wish that the regular days would pass faster.

We usually dress up and groom ourselves only on special days unless our job requires that we look good and in some cases wear formal attires. In some professions, looking good is part of the job description. But for many professions, if you dress up like you are going for a special occasion, you will be receiving questions like "What is special today?" However, the things we do on regular days are fundamental in sustaining our existence. Each peaceful day is precious, and we are meant to live it to the fullest.

Starting your daily routine looking good can make you feel awesome. It reinforces your confidence and shifts your focus to gratitude. The beauty you will add to the surrounding will energize the people in your circle. They will associate your presence with positive energy. You may be thinking, "I need a reason to look good." But looking good can give you a reason to feel good. There have been research studies conducted to determine the relationship between behavior and feelings. It is obvious that a certain feeling results in a certain behavior. Happy feeling is followed by a smile or a laughter. But researchers were interested in the reverse direction of the relationship. Can a behavior induce feelings? Can smiling for no reason lead to a happy feeling? The findings show that a smiley face can actually lead to a happy feeling. Plus, people around happy people reinforce the behavior. It is contagious. It can make your regular day a special day.

• Let us stop fixing our happiness on a distant SPECIAL DAY at the cost of TODAY. Make TODAY a SPECIAL DAY.

• A blessed regular day is worth a SPECIAL DAY for we all are SPECIAL in the sight of the LORD.

David the psalmist says,

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well " (Psalm 139: 13 & 14, NIV).

And God affirms it by saying,

"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me" (Isaiah 49: 16, NIV).

Reflection

Are there people in your circle who create a positive vibe just by their presence? What is special about them? Would you like to let them know that they are making a difference?

Prayer Journal

How would you like God to help you shine light on the experience of people around you? What are the things you need to overcome to live each day to the fullest?